Mated coupling for fluid systems



April 18, 1939.

P. w.v PARKl-:RTON

MATED COUPLING FOR FLUID SYSTEMS Filed June 15, 1935s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o 4| Il b A 1 n l l .J MMH L@ 4 1 ,/w .I l/IH llllll 1l uw. l ,5 lll/{IIHUII g l: HUVIHH In HI lllll l//IMHUMQ 2 8 1| .l nro .nl/ 1| 5 N nu -Mb MH.. 2 3 lol No 4, 5 l 44| Q MM... IIIIII I. K lllllll Il l| f Y x m Umlll H um -Il .yl [Ill 4. B M M 4 Mil/Moll llllllllll l. 5 /,0 4 5 \f00 IV. IIIIIIIII lll DD M a O Al 0 Cnv\ .D0 4 A+ A..

Ill l0 lNvENToR l557526:' W. Par/feron NEY l AVA.

April 18, 1939- P. w. PARKERToN MATED COUPLING FOR FLUID SYSTEMS Filed June l5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENTOR Parkeron ,l I v Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to quick locking mated couplings for fluid systems. The coupling members of the invention are designed to unite separate units, as a flexible hose from a tank truck with a stationary tank or reservoir, and are adapted by the arrangement of their respectve parts in relation to each other and by the specific combination of such parts, to form a joint that is liquid-tight and even gas-tight.

From the accompanying specification and drawings, various objects and purposes will be seen for which the invention may be used. It is, however, especially of advantage in the handling and delivery of liquids and gases from one container to another without appreciable loss of the material so handled.

Moreover, as the coupling assembly of the invention may, in its application, be so designed that one coupling member will make a tight joint only with the other in specific comb-ination therewith, its use provides a ready means for ensuring that fluid shall be passed through the system only by persons having custody of the particular coupling member that matches or mates with the one previously made an integral part of the system.

Advantages of the invention will be seen to include many adaptations, particularly where it is desirable or necessary to check or meter the substance, liquid or gas passing through the system in which the coupling members are provided.

The invention can best be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show one way in which the purposes of the invention can be accomplished. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the two parts of the device in locked position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 1 with the separate coupling members in the rst position preparatory to locking; Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the second position just prior to the nal locking movement; Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In general, as can be seen from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the coupling assembly is constructed of two members A and B, member A, which I shall call the fixed member, consisting of elements IG, Il and I2, and member B, which I shall call the movable member of the assembly, consisting of elements 40-45. The movable member B is positioned so that outer sleeve 44 thereof may be placed over ring piece Il of the fixed member A so that the former may be turned about the latter and locked in place.

The xed member is constructed of a flanged element I of suitable non-corrosive metal as stainless steel, to which is secured an outer ring II provided with helical ridges or threads I4 adapted and arranged so that when member 44 is turned thereon an amount preferably less than one turn, the same will act to draw member 44 and its accompanying structure (member B) t0- ward member A.

Member IU is provided with a flange I through which are drilled openings for the reception of machine bolts I6 threaded into ring II at suitable points as at I'I. The tips of bolts I6 may be exposed as through openings Ila formed in ring Il so that they may be threaded with a wire sealing member I'Ib as a precaution against tampering. Resilient washers I8 are carried by bolts IS so that a key plate I2 may be secured in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5. The resiliency of the washers allows for wear in packing 5l, which will later be described.

Key plate I2, which is shown in side and end section in Figs. 1 and 5, is annular in form and is preferably made of stainless steel It is provided with a guide pin I9 for the purpose hereinafter to be described and is provided with longitudinal channels 20 on the internal surface thereof. It has a depending flange 2| through which are drilled, at predetermined intervals, holes 22 for the reception of the heads 16a of bolts i8 which hold it resiliently in position.

Flange 2| is provided with lugs 23 which Vary in length and position but which are preferably uniform in'diameter. These lugs are designed, as will hereinafter more particularly be described, to coact with the ends 45 of push cams 4I in order to bring the circumferential channels 4l of said cams into alignment with a locking ring 43 so that this ring and the cuter sleeve 44 of coupling member B may be turned and screwed securely in place on ring I I.

The movable member B consists of a combination of parts mounted on hose section '40 which is preferably made of stainless steel and has corrugations 4l!a on the inside of the open end for the purpose of gripping a flexible hose 4llD when an internal ring 40c is expanded thereagainst in a manner well known in the art.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the parts of movable member B in general are constructed as follows: I-Iose section 40 is provided with cylindrical openings 48 disposed in and about the annular body 46X thereof, in which openings push cams 4I are longitudinally movable. A cover sleeve 42 ts over the annular. body 40X and over the push cams 4I and is secured to MX by screws 4Ia extending into threaded openings 4Ib spaced at suitable intervals as indicated in Fi 4. xged thereto, as by screws 49, a ring 45. Screws 49 `are shown provided with holes 50, through which sealing wires 6I may be threaded, so vthat the construction cannot be tampered with without breaking these wires or the seal thereof.

The other end of hose section 40 has v Adjacent the ring 45 is an outer sleeve 154 adapted to turn about the members d, 4I and 42 when the circumferential channels 4l of push cams d! are brought into alignment with locking ring 43, shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in its open position. When the channels are in this position the intermediate portions 62 (Figs. l and 4) of locking ring 43 are permitted to pass through channels G'i so that the ring, with its related parts, may be turned.

Locking ring 43 is preferably made of manganese bronze, and is provided with cut-outs 59 of a slightly greater diameter than that of push cams 4I.

Push cams 4I are held outwardly by springs 5I). Cover sleeve 42, preferably made of stainless steel, is provided with a ring or flange 5I to take the stress put upon it by shoulder 52 of outer sleeve 44 where the same is taken up against ring il. Sleeve d2 also has a number of irregularly spaced projections or lugs 53 which slide in channels 20 of key plate I2 as the two parts are put together. The inner periphery of the sleeve is grooved, as shown best in Fig. 5, for the reception of push cams 4I, which are held between sleeve 42 and the annular body 40X.

Outer sleeve 44 is provided with grooves 54 in which lugs I3 of locking ring 43 slide during the take-up operation. At its outer periphery it carries lugs 44a to facilitate turning as by a spanner Wrench, and on its furthermost end carries internal threads 55 corresponding in location with threads I on member II. An appropriate groove or slot 55 (Figs- 2 and 3) is cut in the end of outer sleeve t4 so that pin AI3 of key plate I2 may pass through it as the sections are mated.

A suitable packing 5'! is provided in the end of. 43X in order that the joint between the two sections of the coupling may be kept fluid-tight when the same are in mated position.

When the coupling isput together, movable member B is brought up to iixed member A by moving the former longitudinally with relation to the latter while guide pin I9 passes through slo-t 55. During this manipulation, lugs 53 of cover sleeve 52 slide through grooves 20 until the assembly reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. At this point, lugs Z3 are flush with the ends 46 of cams 5I but have not yet pushed the cams back. These lugs, as previously indicated, are of irregular length or spacing or of diierent length and spacing, so that for any particular assembly they serve as the key of a lock, and so that only predetermined members can be brought into huid-tight relationship with each other.

Further movement or" the coupling members toward each other causes lugs 23 to push back cams 4I against springs 53 a distance determined in each case so that the annular grooves or channels 41 are brought into alignment with locking ring 43. The position of the parts at this stage is shown in Fig. 3. At this point the outer sleeve MI may be turned and tightened on threads I4, 55, so that shoulder 52 comes up against flange 5I, sleeve A2 abuts the depending annulus 2l of key plate I2, and the parts 40X and I5 are drawn firmly together against resilient gasket 5'I asshown in Fig. l. is a fluid-tight joint.

What I claim is:

1. In a. uid system, a mated coupling com- The result I prising a fixed member and a movable member adapted to fit over and against the xed member, a plurality of longitudinally extending lugs disposed on said rlxed member, a complementary memberof longitudinally yielding cams having annular grooves thereon disposed on said movable member, and a locking ring disposed Within said movable member, said ring being adapted and arranged to be brought into alignment wtih the annular grooves when the movable member is moved toward the xed member to depress said cams, and to turn through said grooves when the movable member is rotated.

2. In a iluid system, a mated coupling comprising a xed member and a movable member adapted to t over and against the ixed member, a plurality of longitudinally extending lugs of variable length disposed on said fixed member, an equal number of longitudinally yielding cams having annular grooves thereon disposed on said movable member, and a locking ring disposed within said movable member, said cams being so proportioned and related to said lugs that the said ring is brought into alignment with the annular grooves when the members are moved a predetermined distance toward one another to depress said cams, and so that said ring may then be rotated through said grooves.

3. In a fluid system, a mated coupling oomprising a fixed member and a movable member adapted to fit over and against the fixed member, a plurality of longitudinally extending lugs disposed on said iixed member, an equal number of longitudinally movable cams yieldingly disposed on said movable member, said cams having annular grooves therein, and a locking ring mounted in said movable member and rotatable therewith, said lugs, cams, grooves and ring being so related that the ring may be turned through said grooves when the movable member is brought into predetermined relationship with said xed member.

4. In a uid system, a mated coupling comprising a iixed member and a movable member, a plurality oi notched rods and a locking ring disposed within said movable member, and means on said xed member for moving said notched rods into alignment with said ring whereby the said ring may be turned through said notches.

5. In a fluid system, a mated coupling comprising a fixed member and a movable member, a plurality of notched rods and a locking ring disposed within said movable member, means on said iixed member for moving said notched rods into alignment with said ring whereby the said ring may be turned through said notches, and l means on said members for permitting them to be mated in Huid-tight relationship only when said notched rods are aligned with said ring and the members thereafter rotated with respect t each other. 6. In a huid system, a mated coupling comprising a fixed member and a movable member, a plurality of notched rods, a plurality oi keys and a ring disposed within and carried by said movable member, and complementary rod-engaging lugs and key-engaging key-ways carried by said xed member, said complementary members being adapted to coact and interit when the respective members are brought together so that one may be turned about the other to bring the same in Huid-tight relationship with each other.

PROSPER W'. PARKERTON. 

